Until the early 1900′s staffing agencies, also known as employment agencies, generally did not exist. Communities were smaller, and because there was no telephone or internet, people communicated face to face. People in small towns knew each other and hiring was based on that personal knowledge. One of the first staffing agencies was created in 1906 in response to the enormous calamity of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. With an entire city of people displaced, there was an urgent need to hire workers on a mass scale to re-establish businesses that had been destroyed by the earthquake and fire, and to rebuild the city. Out of this urgent need to match workers to jobs the staffing agency industry was born.

Today the staffing industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. There are many staffing companies with more than $1 Billion in sales; the number of companies with over $100 Million in sales grew in 2006. According to the American Staffing Association, “America’s staffing companies employed an average of 2.96 million temporary and contract workers per day in 2006…and they added an average of 52,000 jobs per day in 2006″.

Why are staffing agencies so popular? In a word, it’s because of flexibility. Staffing agencies help workers to find work when they want, and they help business hire workers when they are needed. Staffing agencies provide workers to fill in when regular workers are absent, to provide extra help during busy times such as Christmas, and to work on special projects. The variety of jobs provided by staffing agencies is enormous.

Most parents encourage their children to go to college and learn something that will help them get a job after they graduate. After four or more years of college, many graduates would prefer to take some time off to see the world, or just find themselves. In the movie, Back to School, Rodney Dangerfield was cast as a parent who goes back to school primarily to get his son to stay in school so his son can get an education and a job. Rodney is invited to give the college commencement address. ”It’s a jungle out there,” he says. ”So my advice is don’t go. Live at home. Let your parents worry about it.” Perhaps this is the sociological reason for the growth of staffing agencies to provide people with jobs.

According to MSN Encarta, the word job is a “noun and a verb:

noun (plural jobs) Definition: 1. paid occupation: an activity such as a trade or profession that somebody does regularly for pay, or a paid position doing this

She’s got a new job.

2. task: something that remains to be done or dealt with

I have a couple jobs to do this afternoon.

several jobs around the house

3. assignment: an individual piece of work of a particular nature

We managed to complete the job in under a week.

4. function: the role that somebody or something fulfills

It’s her job to look after the finances.

5. difficulty: something that is difficult to accomplish

I had quite a job getting it to start.

6. quality of work done: a completed piece of work of a particular quality

9. computer programming task: a computer programming task run as a single application or unit”

All of the nouns, with the exception of crime, relate to what staffing agencies provide. As a verb, with the exception of a jobber who deals in wholesale merchandise, most of the definitions relate to what staffing agencies do:
“verb (past and past participle jobbed, present participle jobobing, 3rd person present singular jobs) Definition:

1. intransitive verb work occasionally: to take occasional or casual work

He jobs as a gardener from time to time…

2. transitive verb distribute work to others: to subcontract portions of contract work to others

job out the plumbing work on the house”

It would be unusual for most staffing agencies to provide a songwriter or an artist to a business. This is a pity because there are so many songwriters and artists that need jobs. One of the greatest vocal rock and roll songs ever written was called Get A Job by the Silhouettes. It was recorded in the late 1950′s. It was a number one hit on the pop charts and it sold over one million copies. The song was written by Richard Lewis after he completed his military service. When he came home he had no work and his mother told him to “Get A Job” and this inspired him to write the song.

The lyrics are:

“CHORUS

Sha na na na, sha na na na na(repeat 4x)

Yip dip dip dip dip dip, bum bum bum bum bum bum

Sha na na na, sha na na na na

Well, from about the time every morning when she wakes me up and cries,”Get a job!”

Well, after breakfast every day, she throws a polish on my way and never fails to say
(bass)Get a job

REPEAT CHORUS

Oh, oh, and when I get the paper

I read it through and through

And my girl never fails to see

If there is any work for me

BRIDGE

And when I go back to my house

I hear my woman’s mouth

Preachin’ and a-cryin’, tell me that I’m lying ’bout a job”

Whoa-ooh-oh, and when I get the paper

I read it through and through

And my girl never fails to see

If there is any work for me”

If Mr. Lewis had other marketable skills he might have joined the legions of people working for the staffing agency industry. One of the biggest concerns of a growing staffing agency is cash flow. To grow into a multimillion dollar business, it takes a considerable amount of cash. Payroll obligations must be met every two weeks to pay staffing agency employees, but the actual employers (i.e. the companies that are using the staffing agency people) may take 30 to 60 days to pay their bills. Accounts receivable financing can provide staffing agencies with virtually unlimited cash for growth. The main requirement is to have staffing agency employees working for creditworthy businesses.

This financing technique can accelerate cash flow for exponential growth because the cash for the invoices is available immediately every time an employer is billed for services rendered. Commercial finance companies are the primary providers of accounts receivable financing for staffing agencies; some banks are involved in financing larger, multi-million dollar transactions that are low risk. As a general rule, banks will not provide accounts receivable financing for a staffing agency that is a start-up or for one that is growing very rapidly in the early years of their business.

The bottom line: if you need to get a job, a staffing agency may be an excellent choice to find work on your terms; if you need cash flow to grow a staffing agency, accounts receivable financing may be an excellent choice for financing growth without bank terms.

Cars are not simply a luxury but today have become a necessity in everyday life. Not merely a means of transportation, a good car is a good investment both for you and your family. Do you buy a new car or go for a secondhand one? Where do you buy? How much are you willing to fork over for that car that will fulfill your dreams? Sometimes you spend an unaccountably long time just looking for the car you want and neglect to take into consideration the actual effect it will have on your finances.

Hunting for a car is not enough – it is when you have found the best car finance deal that the search is effectively over. Now anything remotely financial is not an endearing subject, but it is a must when purchasing a car. Buying a car is the second largest single purchase a person makes. Most buyers end up borrowing money and some end up in staggering debt because of this. Lack of awareness of financial options is literally throwing money down the drain. So unless you would not get more for your money, the best advice is to move on to other deals.

Car financial deals are classified into three categories: Car Finance by Make, Car Finance by Body Style and Car Finance by Class. Car finance by Make is the brand of the car. Are you sure you want this Volvo, or maybe the Porsche? Convertibles, sedans and the like fall under Body Style and car finance by Class has the likes of luxury cars, sports cars and so on. Unless you are planning to pay in cash, you will have to apply for a car loan. Negotiations with the dealership will be long and tiring because you need to acquire the lowest possible price, but it is also important to pay attention to the interest rates. Research the latest about auto finance incentives and deals – this could cause a sizable saving in your new car purchase.

Car buyers have several options when it comes to loans and this could spell the difference between the best deals and the worst. Personal loans from an independent lender are generally a much cheaper way to borrow the money to buy a car. Shop around for car deals. Those who rely on the first deal proposed to them by their car salesman; end up paying soaring interest rates. Car finance offered in dealerships generally has higher interest rates.

Car dealerships consistently mark up the loan cost without informing the customer. It would have been illegal had you been financing a home, but not so when it’s a car. Ignorance may be bliss, but this time it could burn you. If you have no idea about it or do not inquire into it, the dealerships’ salesmen and the finance executives would not be the ones to tell you. The buyer of the car doesn’t have to finance the deal through the dealerships alone. He can head to a credit union or to a bank and shop around.

Approved Car Finance can provide car finance and loans at a price that will appeal to you and your pocket because we specialise in providing the car you want at a price you can afford.

Handling questions in meetings and conference calls can be a challenge. Not only do you need to think quickly, but you also are expected to deliver a concise and clear answer. Many senior executives, despite frequent calls, still struggle with this aspect of executive speaking. This article will focus on giving you five approaches in how to address questions in conference calls. Conference calls are especially challenging as the lack of visual cues makes it harder to read the intention of the other party. We will provide sample answers using each of the five formats.

Challenges with communicating via conference call

Often held at unsociable hours
No visual cues
More interference [bad lines,multi-tasking like checking emails]
Harder to follow what each party is saying unless set-up and cues are used
Conversations can side-track and run over-time
One party talks for too long and loses interest of other parties or the other party cannot follow their answer
It’s harder to address complex issues unless checking techniques are used
Two skills to master; Voice to project confidence, Structure for clarity.
Answering a question: The opening

Use a set up to prepare the content (movie trailer versus the movie)
Be precise
Take a stand ie two points or three points
Pause before you answer [rather than saying 'well, errr']
Use vocal energy [emphasis, volume changes] to project your credibility
The opening should be short and concise
Five Types of Answering formats

Use a variety of formats in any one conference call
If you are not sure how many points to include in your answer, aim low; start with one or two points. Then check with the questioner if they would like to explore the issue in other ways.
Format ONE: The set up

Signals to the questioner what’s coming next [like a TV announcement]
Respond to the question [eg "That's a good question"; "The rule is quite new and it is also complicated"]
Pause
Then overview the points you will cover in your answer
Sample replies

The rule is quite new and it is also complicated. There are two main changes. Change one and change two. Let’s start with change one.
The new regulation covers three areas: A, B and C. I will cover each of these areas in more detail now.
Format TWO: Paraphrase the question

Restate the question to check your understanding
Interpret what you believe the questioner wants to know
Do the thinking for the questioner
Don’t answer the question until you have clarified
Gives you some thinking time
Leads to better quality answers
Sample replies

As I understand your question, what you would like to know is: what is the major impact of this new regulation?
As I hear your question, what you would like to know is whether the impact of the new regulation will affect our business units. Is that correct?
If I understand you correctly, you are interested in [topic one]. Could I just check whether you would like to know about X or Y first?
Format THREE: Scope is too broad

When the question is too broad, check.
Don’t guess. Ask to clarify.
Ask a checking question
Give options to the questioner
Don’t ask the question to do ‘more work’
Sample replies

That’s a good question. It’s very broad and complex. Could I ask which aspect you are interested in?
That’s a good question. It’s very broad and complex. Should I start with A or B?
Two issues come immediately to mind. Issue 1 and Issue 2. Where one would you like to explore first?
This is a little broad in nature. It would be helpful if we could be more specific. Should we start with X, Y or Z?
This question is a little bit broad, could you be more specific?
Format FOUR: Clarify the question

When you are uncertain which aspect the questioner is interested in
Complex topics that would take a long time to talk about
Giving yourself some thinking time
Enables more of a conversational style to emerge in the Q&A
Sample replies

I could answer this question in two ways. From perspective A, or perspective B. Which aspect would you like me to focus on first?
Good question. Are you most interested in A or B or C?
Format FIVE: Too much information? Slice the melon!

When you have a lot of content you could use in your answer [the large watermelon]
Slice your information into sections [slices of the melon]
Overview the content in bullet points first
Then check which area the questioner would like to address first
Then focus into and drill down in that area
After you have covered each area, check back to see how the questioner would like to proceed
Sample replies

This is a complicated area. The main challenges to consider are 1,2,3, and 4. Which issue would you like to start with?
This is a very complicated question. The regulations are new and involve a lot of details. We have investigated the implication with our auditors and have identified six areas that we should address. In brief they are 1,2,3,4,5 and 6. Which one is most important to you right now?
We have analyzed this problem over the past two months and four areas need to be considered. I would like to briefly overview each area and then perhaps you could tell me which one is most urgent for you right now. We could then drill down into that one first.
How does checking affect your credibility?

It enhances it! Precise communication is always appreciated
Mix up your language patterns so that you do not repeat the same phrases.
Samples:

Could I check my understanding?
That’s interesting, let me see if I understand your question.
Let me see if I got your point
Good question. The focus is a little bit broad. Where are you going with this? What would you like me to address first?
To answer that question in full, I could speak for 30 minutes. Could you help me understand where I should start?
Conclusion

While conference calls, meetings and aggressive questioners will always be a fact of life for many senior business executives, using these five formats will give you the confidence that you can better engage, interact and connect with even the most challenging of question.

“Warwick is passionate about helping executives, working in multinational companies based in Greater China, speak out with executive presence so they can think, speak and act like a leader. I help executives turn the complex into compellingly simple message that are understood, passed on and acted on.”

Learn how to turn your technical presentations into engaging message-based presentations that get your boss’ attention and will cut your presentation time in half

Technical ability alone will not help senior finance executive’s get promoted

Many senior finance executives in China have risen the corporate ladder on the back of their solid technical ability and operational skills. They have been able to ride the massive growth in China over the past decade by combining a strong technical grasp and an aptitude to understand their client’s needs in compliance and financing.

These senior executives are often held up as future country or regional Chief Financial Officers (CFOs). However, one significant obstacle awaits many finances executives – their strength in technical issues. Many senior finance executives are too focused on the details, the process and procedures. So when presenting to CEOs, board of directors or overseas directors, they are frustrated by their inability to get their point across without being bombarded by direct questions, interrupted constantly in their presentation and feeling of being harassed by senior management. While technical skills got them to where they are today, they can’t take them any further in their careers.

It doesn’t have to be that way. They don’t need to be stuck here forever.

Senior finance executives who can present effectively are highly marketable

Presentations to senior management often cause nerves and tension in any presenter. Many technical presenters – especially in finance – are naturally introverted and when faced with A-type personalities they are often talked-over or easily interrupted. However, by learning some important skills in presentation creation and delivery, even shy and quiet presenters can learn how to get their point across to their CEO in a concise, crisp and engaging way. Importantly, their presentations can be delivered in a much shorter time – which both the senior finance executive and the CEO and directors appreciate! Having a reputation as a CFO who both understands the business and can deliver sharp presentations is a great asset to career promotion. Once learned, these skills deliver a fantastic return-on-investment year-in, year-out.

So if you are currently stuck by delivering overly detailed technical presentations to a group of frustrated senior managers, you are not alone.

Too much information often kills the effectiveness of your presentation

If any of the above sounds familiar, don’t worry, you are not alone. In fact, you are in good company. Most senior finance people have similar issues. Being technical experts means you are focused on process, procedure, the small nitty gritty details of data. All of which is essential – and desirable – in finance executives. However, when you reach the C-level, these technical skills become less important as the core task of an executive is to make decisions and communicate them throughout the organisation. All highly effective executives are superb communicators and presenters. Today, when hiring decisions are made on the CFO or CEO role -the ability to engage with internal and external stakeholders is one of the most important competencies.

However, as a finance expert, you can’t be expected to automatically know what it takes to create message based presentations that engage your audience in the shortest possible time – you are not an advertising company. The good news is that help is here and you can learn these skills.

Advice from The One Minute Presenter

To take a step away from being a technical expert and learning the craft of an effective executive communicator, you first need to understand taglines.

What is a tagline?

Taglines are short catchy marketing phrases which sum up the promise of a brand (or product or movie), and are designed to be memorable and easily passed through a target audience. A good tagline can stand the test of time and become synonymous with a company or product. The 1975-2005 “Don’t leave home without it” from American Express and the 1988 “Just do it” from Nike taglines show how the power of taglines can carry over into building the world’s most valuable brands.

What is your tagline?

Take a look at your next presentation. Use these steps to form your tagline:

1. Write down your happy ending in 25-50 words.

In other words what do you want to achieve at the end of the presentation. What do you want the audience to think, feel and do. Be as specific as you can.

2. Take a break and come back to this paragraph.

Highlight key words or phrases. Now imagine you only had time to deliver one sentence to your audience. Keep the value and meaning of your message. Rewrite it in 10 words or less.

3. Put this aside for several hours or longer.

Come back and see which words really sum up the essence of your message. Pick out your key words or phrases.

For The One Minute Presenter, our nine word tagline is “successful business presentations for a short attention span world”. We use two key phrases: successful business presentations and short attention spans.

You now have focus in your presentation. This will help you structure your presentation framework. You can check your supporting points, and choice of visuals (charts, graphs, statistics) against your key words. Ask yourself, “How does this support my key words?”

With practice, you will be able to quickly get to your key words(s) in a shorter time. It will be a challenge the first few times you try this exercise. Stick with it. You need the focus to capture and engage today’s audiences. The clearer your message, the more effective your presentations.

Be aware when you present your ideas

Make your message tangible. Don’t make your audience work it out. If you make them think during a presentation, then while they are thinking, they cannot be listening to your subsequent words. Dr. John Medina, author of Brain Rules, vividly demonstrates how the human brain is ill equipped to handle two processing tasks simultaneously. “Driving while talking on a cell phone is worse than driving drunk.” This is because the human brain uses something called the attentional spotlight. The attentional spotlight, according to Dr. Medina, cannot multitask which means cellphone-talking car drivers have the same reaction time (when stopping) as a drunk driver. So don’t make your audiences think! Do the thinking for them. Know where you want to take them, shape a clear concept of your overall message, use stories to engage and bite-size your content with slogans, soundbites and taglines. Puzzles are great for long train and plane journeys, but not for successful business presentations.

Many CFOs have benefited from The One Minute Presenter coaching

I work with many CFOs from multinationals around Greater China. Just recently, after helping one senior executive to understand how to create a message-based presentation from their technical data, she told me that her presentation to the board of directors went much more smoothly and took less time than previous years. Importantly, she was interrupted much less with sharp questions. She is now able to apply these skills in other areas of her work, such as conference calls, client meetings and internal senior manager briefings.